Rear sight for firearms



@n zwmom DCC. 5, V W GRANT REAR SIGHT FOR FIREARMS Filed July 29, 1942 than ULAMUHS. l Illkaltl libe l Huwnmm n im Patented Dec. 5, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a rear sight for a firearm.

Most rear sights on firearms are difficult to adjust quickly and conveniently. It is customary to provide some form of a locking screw, usually requiring the use of both hands to tighten or loosen the locking screw to secure the desired range setting. Frequently, and especially after continued firing, the locking screw becomes loosened, permitting the sight components to move and thereby spoiling the sight setting.

Any sights which employ traversing screws for windage corrections are subject to a certain amount of backlash which is inherent in any screw adjustment. Consequently care has to be exercised in setting such a sight for windage to allow suitable compensation for this backlash. In view of this it is apparent that a sight which is readily adjustable for windage and elevation and one which will not lose its setting regardless of any jarring or vibrations due to firing or other causes is most desirable.

Accordingly it is an object of this invention to provide an improved rear sight having positive securing means for elevation and windage adjustments and no backlash.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved rear sight having readily accessible and easily adjustable windage and elevation adjustments.

The specific nature of the invention as well as other objects and advantages thereof will clearly appear from a description of a preferred embodiment as shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the rear sight shown mounted on a xed base.

Fig. 2 is a top elevational view of the rear sight as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a left end elevational view-of the rear sight as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a right end elevational view ofthe rear sight as shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing in which like characters refer to the same parts, a long split body I is provided, its lower part comprising a base 2 and its upper part a sight leaf 3. One end 4 of the body I is cylindrical and is provided with a transverse hole 5. A longitudinal slot B extending from the hole 5 to the other end 1 of body" I, divides the body I into the previously mentioned base 2 and the leaf 3. On the under side of the end 4 and in the center thereof, there is provided a downwardly projecting portion 4a which terminates in a wedge-shaped detent 4b. On the under side of the base 2 about two-thirds of the length of the base from the end 4, there is provided an integrally formed downwardly projecting cylindrical pivot 8. The other end 'I of the base 2 is bifurcated to form two oppositely disposed projecting lugs 2a and 2b. The lugs 2a and 2b project outwardly in width somewhat beyond the main body of the base 2. The under side of the base 2, from the rear of the detent 4b to the center of the pivot 8, is undercut to form a thin spring-like section 2c. The base 2 and the leaf 3 are suitably heat treated and tempered to produce spring metal characteristics.

Near the end Ia of leaf 3 there is provided an upstanding integrally formed sighting aperture 9. Approximately in the center of the aperture 9 a peep hole I0 is provided. The end Ia of the leaf 3 is bifurcated to form two oppositely disposed lugs 3b and 3c. The lugs 3b and 3c project outwardly corresponding to the lugs 2a and 2b of the base 2. Radially inclined surfaces 3a and 3d extend upwardly from the lugs 3b and 3c respectively to the aperture 9. On the inclined surfaces 3a and 3d there are provided four equally spaced semi-cylindrical transverse slots IIa, IIb, Ilc, and IId.

In the bifurcated end 'I of the base 2 a latch I2 is pivotally mounted. The latch I2 is a triangularly shaped member. An integral transverse pin I3, projecting outwardly from each side, is provided in the lower vertex of the latch I2, the latch I2 being pivotally mounted within the bifurcated end 'I of the base 2 by placing the pin I3 of the latch within transverse U-shaped holes I4 provided in the base 2. A similar integral transverse pin I5 is provided in another vertex of the latch I2 which engages any of the slots Ila, IIb, IIc or IId as may bje desired. The exposed surface I2a of latch I2 is suitably knurled to provide a non-slipping surface.

The base 2 is pivotally mounted on a fixed sight base I6 by inserting the pivot 8 in a suitable hole I'I in the top of the base I6. It should be understood that the base 2 may be similarly mounted directly on the top of the receiver or barrel of a firearm. A transverse pin I8 provided in the base IB lightly engages a cylindrical slot 8a in the pivot 8. Each end of the slot 8a in the pivot 8 is eut back slightly to permit a partial rotational movement of the base 2 about the pivot 8. On the top of the base I6 several equally spaced detent notches I 9 are provided. These notches are located on radial lines extending from the center of the pivot 8 outwardly and positioned directly under the detent 4b.

The leaf 3 is readily adjusted for elevation by moving the pin l of the latch l2 into any of the notches Ila, IIb, llc or Hd. This is easily knurled surface I2a with the thumb which deiiects the spring leaf 3 downward, thereby enabling the upper pin l5 of the latch I2 to be moved easily into the desired notch. While the sight as shown in its preferred form has but four different elevation adjustments, it should be understood that finer or greater range of adjustment may be readily provided by increasing the number of notches.

The notches I9 provided on the xed base I6 may represent minutes of angle to the right or left of the center line of the bore. To adjust the sight for windage the cylindrical end 4 is raised slightly by grasping the handle-like structure formed by the hole 5. This disengages the detent 4b from its engaging notch I9. The base 2 may then be rotated slightly about the pivotv 8 to the desired position and then released. The

thin spring-like section 2c then acts downwardly firmly engaging the detent 4b in any desired notch I9. Thus, it is readily apparent that the sight adjustments cannot be shaken loose and there are no screws to unlock.

I claim:

l. A rearm sight comprising a U-shaped unitary resilient member having a first arm adapted to be horizontally secured to a firearm and a second arm overlying said first arm, sight means supported on the free end of said second arm, a vertical lug on said second arm adjacent the free end thereof and having a plurality of notches at different distances from the first arm, and latch means pivotally secured to the first arm and engaging a selected one of said notches to hold said second arm against the spring tension of said resilient member whereby the sight means may be adjusted to a selected elevation with respect to the firearm.

2. A firearm sight comprising a U-shaped unitary resilient member having a rst arm adapted to be pivotally secured to a firearm on a normally vertical axis and a second arm overlying said rst arm, a projection depending from said U-shaped member and arranged to resiliently engage the firearm to adjustably secure the member in a selected one of a plurality of adjusted positions on said axis, sight means on said second arm and means connecting said arms to hold said second arm and sight means in any one of a plurality of vertically adjusted positions.

3. A firearm sight comprising a U-shaped unitary resilient member having a rst arm adapted to be pivotally secured to a firearm on a normally vertical axis and a second arm overlying said first arm, means on the first arm engaging the firearm to adjustably secure the member in a selected one of a plurality of adjusted positions on said axis, sight means supported on the free end of said second arm, a vertical lug on said second arm adjacent the free end thereof and having a plurality of notches at different distances from the iirst arm, and latch means pivotally secured to the first arm and engaging a selected one of said notches to hold said second arm against the spring tension of said resilient member whereby the sight means may be adjusted to a selected elevation with respect to the iirearm.

4. A firearm sight comprising a U-shaped unitary resilient member having a first arm adapted to be pivotally secured to a lirearm on a normally vertical axis and a second arm overlying said first arm, a projection depending from said U-shaped resilient member and arranged to engage laterally spaced indentations in the firearm surface, thereby permitting the latching of the member in a selected one of a plurality of adjusted positions on said axis, sight means on said second arm longitudinally oifset from said axis, and means connecting the ends of said arms to hold said second arm and sight means in any one of a plurality of vertically adjusted positions.

5. A firearm sight comprising a U-shaped unitary resilient member having a firstarm adapted to be pivotally secured to a firearm on a normally vertical axis and a second arm overlying said iirst arm, a projection depending from the U- shaped resilient member and arranged to engage laterally spaced indentations in the firearm surface, thereby permitting the latching of the member in a selected one of a plurality of adjusted positions on said axis, sight means supported on the free end of said second arm, a vertical lug on said second arm adjacent the free end thereof and having a plurality of notches at different distances from the first arm, and latch means pivotally secured to the first arm and engaging a selected one of said notches.

6. A firearm sight comprising a U-shaped unitary resilient member having a first arm adapted to be pivotally secured to a firearm on a normally vertical axis and a second arm overlying said iirst arm, means on the first arm engaging the firearm to adjustably secure the member in a selected one of a plurality of adjusted positions on said axis, sight means on the second arm longitudinally offset from said axis, there being a plurality of vertically spaced notches adjacent the free end of said second arm at varying distances from said first arm, and latch means pivoted to and adjacent the free end of the first arm and adapted to engage a selected one of said notches to thereby hold said second arm and sight means in any one of a plurality of vertically adjusted positions against the tension of said resilient` member.

7. A firearm sight comprising a U-shaped unitary resilient member having a rst arm arranged to be pivotally secured to a iirearm on a normally vertical axis and a second arm overlying said first arm, a projection depending from said U- shaped resilient member and arranged to engage laterally spaced indentations in the firearm surface, thereby permitting the latching of the member in a selected one of a plurality of adjusted positions on said axis, sight means on the second arm longitudinally offset from said axis, there being a plurality of vertically spaced notches adjacent the free end of said second arm at varying distances from said first arm, and latch means pivoted to and adjacent the free end of the first arm and adapted to engage a selected one of said notches to thereby hold said second arm and sight means in any one of a plurality of vertically adjusted positions.

8. A firearm sight comprising a U-shaped unitary resilient member having a first arm adapted to be horizontally secured to a firearm andl a second arm overlying said first arm, sight means supported on said second arm, the free end of said second arm being bifurcated and having` a plurality of aligned notches on each side of the bifurcated portion located at diierent heights with respect to said rst arm, a manually operable latch pivotally secured to said rst arm and arranged to pivot between the bifurcated end portions of said second arm, and lateral projections on said latch engageable in said notches whereby the second arm and sight means may be held in any one of a plurality of vertically adjusted positions.

9. A firearm sightl comprising a U-shaped unitary resilient member having a rst arm arranged to be pivotally secured to a rearm on a normally vertical axis and a second arm overlying said iirst arm, means on the rst arm arranged to engage the rearm to adjustably secure the member in a selected one of a plurality of adjusted positions on said axis, sight means supported on said second arm, the free end of said second arm being bifurcated, a vertical lug on each side of the bifurcated portion, each lug having a plurality of notches located at diierent distances from the said first arm, a manually operable latch pivotally secured to said rst arm and arranged to pivot between the bifurcated end prtions of said second arm, and lateral projections titldl'iili nutriti on said latch engageable in said notches whereby the second arm and sight means may be held in any one of a plurality of vertically adjusted positions.

10. A firearm sight comprising a U-shaped unitary resilient member having a rst arm arranged to be pivotally secured to a firearm on a normally vertical axis and a. second arm overlying said iirst arm, a projection depending from the juncture of said first and second arms and arranged to engage laterally spaced indentations in the firearm surface, thereby permitting the latching of the member in a selected one of a plurality of adjusted positions on said axis, sight means on the second arm, the free end of said second arm being bifurcated and having a plurality of notches on each bifurcated portion, said notches being located at different heights with respect to said rst arm, a manually operable latch pivotally secured to said iirst arm and arranged to pivot between the bifurcated end portions of said second arm, and lateral projections on said latch engageable in said notches whereby the second arm and sight means may be held in any one of a plurality of vertically adjusted positions.

VAIL W. GRANT.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,5 6l4.,O67. December 5, 19h14..

VAIL'W. GRANT.

It is hereby certified thaterror appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, first column, line-7, afterthe word "easily" insert --accomplished by pressing and that the said Letters Patent should be read with downwardly on the;

record of the case this correction therein that the same may conform to the in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 27th day of February, A. D. 19MB.

Leslie Frazer (seal) Acting commissioner of Patents. 

